Dinner just got delicious with Grandma’s homemade meatballs ! I’m so excited to share this family favorite with you! So simple to make, but I promise you, these will be the best Italian meatballs you make! Traditional Swedish meatballs may be good but these are simply the best!
Homemade Meatballs with Spaghetti
I an seriously so excited to share this recipe with you guys, and I can not wait for you all to try it.
These homemade Italian meatballs are seriously the best, and I have been eating, and enjoying them, for years!
This is my Grandma Adee’s recipe, and we have been eating it my entire life! I sure with my grandma was still with us today to make a big batch, laugh, and have a wonderful night. Every time we make these meatballs, we think of her.
My mom, Susie, who everyone knows as Simply Sated, adapted the recipe and if there’s one recipe I ALWAYS request, its this one.
They are loaded with rich flavor and they are one of my favorite things to make when I need some comfort food.
For more of my Mom’s recipes, be sure to check out her tomato soup with cheesy crostini and snickerdoodle cookies.
Why you’ll love these Meatballs:
- FREEZER FRIENDLY: Be sure to make a big batch for the freezer! They can be cooked right from frozen for simple and easy dinners.
- VERSATILE: These beef meatballs can be served in so many ways. They are great in all of your favorite pasta sauces, pile them into subs or serve as an appetizer with your favorite dips.
- EASY: These grandma’s meatballs are super simple and quick to make, but they are hands down delicious!
How to make Grandma and Mom’s (Kittie Adee and Susie Gall’s) Famous Meatballs
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Beat the eggs.
- Stir in the half and half, breadcrumbs and the seasonings.
- Mix in the ground beef.
- Cook the meatballs in your favorite sauce or check our Swedish meatballs with sauce.
What’s the best beef to use?
Hands down, ground chuck is your best option for the best meatballs. Ground chuck is 20% fat, so it’s the perfect balance between fatty and lean.
Because of this it has a great flavor and you end up with juicy meatballs.
Can you freeze homemade meatballs?
These homemade beef meatballs can be frozen either cooked or uncooked for up to 6 months. The best thing is, is that they don’t need to be thawed before using them, you can toss them right into your sauce from frozen making dinner super effortless.
Be sure to get all of my instructions for freezing and reheating these meatballs within the notes section of the recipe card.
Why do meatballs fall apart?
I can promise you, these meatballs stay perfectly intact, so for best results do follow the recipe! Meatballs fall apart due to the binding ingredients; eggs and breadcrumbs.
Too much, or too little, of either can cause your meatballs to fall apart during cooking.
Tips!
- Make them gluten-free by using GF bread crumbs.
- Don’t overwork the meatball mixture. Over mixing the ingredients can make your meatballs tough and chewy.
- For the most tender and best meatballs, cook them raw (without browning) in your favorite spaghetti or marinara sauce.
I just know that you are going to adore these grandma’s meatballs, and you’re going to quickly discover why they are one of my favorite things to eat! Be sure to let me know if you make them!
More Italian Recipes we Love
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Best Meatball Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- 6 tablespoons Half n Half or heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1½ teaspoons dried oregano or 1 tablespoon Italian herb blend
- 6 tablespoon grated Parmesan
- 1½ teaspoons table salt
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 1½ cups bread crumbs
- 3 pounds ground chuck
- Fresh basil chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Beat eggs lightly in a large mixing bowl. Add Half ‘n Half, breadcrumbs, parsley, basil, oregano, Parmesan, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes, Stir to combine.
- Add ground chuck to the breadcrumb mixture and mix until evenly distributed, being careful NOT to overwork the mixture or the meatballs will be tough.
- At this point, the meatballs can be cooked or frozen raw. See *Notes before reading further.
To Cook the Meatballs:
- Bring your favorite sauce (if cooking all meatballs, 5-6 quarts of sauce are needed) to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Add raw meatballs and return the mixture to a boil without stirring. After 5 minutes, stir very gently so the meatballs stay intact. Reduce the heat to low and simmer 45 minutes (gently stirring every 5 minutes) or until meatballs are cooked through.
- Transfer the meatballs to a metal rack set over a rimmed baking sheet and continue cooking the sauce (at a simmer), stirring every 10 minutes, until it is reduced to desired thickness. The reduction time can vary from 30 minutes (for store-bought) to several hours (homemade).
- Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- This is my Mom, Susie Gall’s recipe. It is my ALL TIME favorite recipe and it’s really special to our family. I hope you enjoy!
- Makes 30 (2 inch) meatballs
- For the most tender and best meatballs, cook them raw (without browning) in your favorite spaghetti or marinara sauce.
- The meatballs can be frozen raw or cooked and frozen for later use. I often make a double recipe of meatballs to cook in one recipe of my homemade sauce.
- To freeze raw meatballs, place them on a large, foil-lined, sprayed, rimmed baking sheet. Cover with sprayed foil and freeze for several hours or overnight. When the meatballs are frozen, transfer them to zipper-style, freezer bags and label with the date. Remove the meatballs as needed and thaw overnight in the fridge (they can also be defrosted in the microwave).
- To freeze cooked meatballs, transfer them to a metal rack set over a large, rimmed baking sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Cover the meatballs with a sheet of sprayed foil and freeze for several hours. Once the meatballs are frozen, transfer to zipper-style freezer bags and label with the date. Thaw the meatballs in the microwave or heat throughout in sauce.
Nutrition Information
Tried these today, very good. Cooked them a little different as I baked them instead of cooking them in a sauce. They are good baked, will use that recipe alot.
Thanks so much for sharing what worked for you, Nick!
Hi!! Is it possible to bake these in the oven? I need to make them for someone who doesn’t like sauce. They look delicious. Thank you!!!
Yes, you can!
By far the best and easiest meatball recipe! I added some fresh garlic, otherwise made as posted. They were delicious!
Love the addition!
Very easy to make and tastes great 👍
Happy to hear!
Do you have a spaghetti/marinara sauce recipe to go with it?
https://www.thecookierookie.com/homemade-marinara-sauce-recipe-tomato/
Thanks!
These were delicious! So so good. My toddlers loved these meatballs. Never made home made meatballs and finally decided to give it a try! Loved it. The only issue I had was since it was my first time making them the meatballs fell apart a tiny bit.
That looks amazing, Brianna!!
Is it possible to do this in a crockpot or instapot? I live in Haiti where it is very hot so leaving the stove on this long makes our house super hot.
I haven’t tried it before, but I am sure it could work!
Is it possible to do this in a crockpot or instapot? I live where it is very hot so leaving the stove on this long makes our house very hot!
I haven’t tried it, but let us know how it goes!
These meatballs are so tender and delicious. I always double the recipe and freeze the ones not eaten right away. Excuse me while I head to the kitchen to make these gorgeous babies. Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by, always the best advice! :)